UNISON
Job Brief: Regional Organiser
Introduction
1. UNISON is Britain’s leading public sector trade union, with over 1.3 million
members working in the public services, private, voluntary and community
sectors and in the energy services. We employ 1200 staff, approximately
370 at our national centre in Euston, central London and the remainder in
our twelve regions across the UK, including Northern Ireland.
The Yorkshire and Humberside Region has a working membership of over
136,000 people, 70 members of staff, 66 branches and 5,179 lay activists.
Leadership Role
2. The Regional Organiser is the key generic organising role in the region,
with responsibility for recruitment, retention and organisation of members.
He/she acts as a powerful advocate of organising and building branch and
membership organisation, and the profile and reputation of UNISON in the
branches and with employers. The Regional Organiser:

provides leadership ensuring that branches, activists and members
are aware of and act in line with UNISON rules and policies.

Supports, guides and develops branches and activists through major
periods of change in the delivery of public services. Ensures union
organisation and influence is maintained and developed through these
periods.

persuades and mentors branch activists on how to establish an
organising approach, identify suitable organising initiatives, evaluate
the outcome of initiatives, design and adapt recruitment campaigns to
build work place organisation, increase membership density, establish
and work to membership targets.

builds branch organisation and performance, identifies training and
development needs of activists, adapts established courses to meet
local needs and provides on going support through coaching and
mentoring of stewards and branch officers.

leads collective negotiations across the range of sectors which
UNISON organises in at local, regional or national level, analysing
complex data and presenting this in an accessible and persuasive
fashion.

represents members individually and collectively, assists branches to
develop systems and processes for managing and undertaking their
casework effectively
The Regional Organiser work package
3. Regional Organisers provide leadership to a group of branches within a
locality, service group or work area to ensure that branches have the
strongest possible workplace organisation. They undertake a work
package drawn from a combination of different elements of the leadership
role such as :

Providing leadership to a specialist area such as a service group or lay
committee.
 Running and managing projects, using project management
techniques

Undertaking region or organisation wide specialist responsibilities for
the development of a policy such as the greening of UNISON, or work
of a service group or cross sector committee.

Managing a small team, e.g. casework team, team of area and/or local
organisers. Supervising the work of area organisers and local
organisers when they are engaged in organising projects with the
Regional Organiser’s branches.
4. UNISON structures its work programme to provide for the systematic
implementation of policies adopted by its democratic lay member
structures. Regional Organisers are responsible for implementing the
work plans and programmes arising out of the four key objectives
determined by the National Executive Council:

Recruiting, organising and representing members.

Negotiating and bargaining on behalf of members and promoting
equality.

Campaigning and promoting UNISON on behalf of members.

Developing an efficient and effective union.
5. The Regional Organiser is a key deliverer of the operational plan for the
region, which ensures that the resources for their areas of responsibility
are directed towards the achievement of the NEC’s objectives and
priorities. The plan identifies regional priorities and establishes progress or
performance indicators to enable effective monitoring and evaluation of all
work and achievements.
6. The key aims of the union as detailed in our Rule Book seek to:
i) Extend and promote our influence in the workplace 7 and in the
Community.
ii) Promote, safeguard and facilitate participation by all members in the
union’s democracy, with special regard to women, members of all
grades, black members, disabled members and lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender members.
iii) Provide effective standards of service in the areas of representation
and advice, information to members on the work of the union, the
provision of financial benefits and the maintenance of educational
facilities for members.
7. To further these aims, Regional Organisers make a significant contribution
to the political development of the region and implementation of national
campaigning objectives. They regularly handle media and media relations
connected with their areas of responsibility and have strong presentation
and public speaking skills. They have a strong understanding and
commitment to partnership working within an organisation, to the public
service ethos and a keen membership focus.
8. Regional Organisers have considerable knowledge of an industrial
relations environment and experience of representing individual or
collective issues. They have strong advocacy skills.
9. UNISON regions are currently undergoing a period of major change to
meet the union’s developing recruitment, organisation and campaigning
agenda. Regional Organisers need to be committed to leading change and
helping branches and lay activists to do likewise.
10. While the Regional Organisers post is a demanding position, requiring
attendance at meetings outside of the conventional working day, UNISON
is a strong supporter of the work/life balance ethos. Post holders will
therefore prioritise their working arrangements in such a way as to
demonstrate by example their personal commitment to these aims in
partnership with senior regional lay officials.
11. The role of the regional organiser is generic and the allocation of their
areas of work is the responsibility of the Regional Secretary and
designated Regional Manager. Areas of work are interchangeable and are
annually reviewed in discussion with the Regional Organiser to meet the
needs of the organisation and service to branches and members.
UNISON
REGIONAL ORGANISER
YORKSHIRE & HUMBERSIDE REGION
REF: R13/26
JOB DESCRIPTION
Grade:
3
Location:
Regionally based
Reports to:
Regional Manager
Responsible for:
Regional Organising teams
OVERALL SUMMARY
This post is the key organising role in the Region. Working under the
strategic direction of a Regional Manager the Regional Organiser acts as a
powerful advocate for building branch organisation and working in partnership
with Lay members to build the profile and reputation of UNISON in its
Branches, and with employers and members.
The Regional Organiser role is a generic leadership role and the work
package is drawn from the list of key responsibilities set out below. Some of
these are interchangeable based on the needs of the Union and the discretion
of senior management.
Key Responsibilities

Provides leadership ensuring Branches, activists and members are aware
of and act in line with UNISON policies, objectives and priorities.

Takes a proactive approach working with Branch activists to establish an
organising framework identifying suitable organising initiatives. Designs
and adapts recruitment campaigns to build workplace organisation and
increase membership density, establishing work to membership targets.

Monitors and Evaluates the outcome of all such initiatives.

Builds Branch organisation and performance, mentoring and developing
activists and identifying their training needs overseeing their appropriate
development.

Leads collective negotiations across the range of sectors which UNISON
organises in at Regional or national level. Acts as Lead specialist on
significant bargaining or campaigning matters, e.g. equal pay.

Regional lead for a service or bargaining group, occupational group
network, self organised group or a regional subcommittee.

Represents members in complex cases and assists Branches to develop
stewards, systems, and processes for managing their own case work
effectively.

Ensures members are provided with the appropriate level of
representation.

Manages projects using UNISON’s project management framework across
a range of issues.

Region wide specialist responsibilities for policy development, service
group work or cross sector committee.

Directs and supervises the work of staff in Grades 5 and 7 in project work
and provides management to individual or teams of Grade 5’s or 7s
undertaking organising and representation.

Direct line management of teams of Grades 5 and 7 Organisers, develops
work programmes and undertakes development reviews.

Undertakes other duties as required by the grade descriptor and/or job
profile of this post.
UNISON
REGIONAL ORGANISER
YORKSHIRE & HUMBERSIDE REGION
REF: R13/26
Person Specification and Selection Criteria
UNISON is an equal opportunities employer, committed to providing equal
opportunities regardless of race or ethnic origin, gender identity, family
situation, sexual orientation, disability, religion or age. This person
specification is designed to help members of Interviewing Panels judge the
qualities of interviewees in a systematic and consistent way and in
accordance with UNISON’s equal opportunities policy. It is given to all job
applicants for information.
Assessment code
A – application form
Pl – Panel interview
Heading
1. Thinking
Selection criteria
1.1 The ability to develop strategies,
solutions or plans to solve difficult
problems using
 Research
 The analysis of complex information
including statistics & financial
information
 An awareness of the political
environment
1.2 A commitment to personal and staff
development that supports the
Regions objectives
2. Interpersonal 2.1 Highly developed interpersonal skills
and
including
Communication
 Leadership
 Team Working
 Mentoring and coaching
 Handling difficult relationships
 Handling complaints
 Ability to work in partnership with
lay members
2.2 A track record of high level negotiation
Assessment
A & Pl
A & Pl
A & Pl
A & Pl
2.3 Experience of advocacy in difficult
situations
2.4 Experience of influencing people at all
levels internally and externally
including the ability to influence and
respond to national and regional
media using
 Presentation skills
 Writing correspondence, reports
newsletters etc
3. Initiative and
Independence
4. Staff
Management
2.5 Awareness of and the ability to use
Information and communications
technology
3.1 Track record of using initiative and
independence over a broad area of
activity involving decision making and
discretion
4.1 Motivating and encouraging innovation
including the ability to
 Monitor and review performance
 Delegate and supervise work
 Build teams
A & Pl
A & Pl
A & Pl
A & Pl
4.2 Demonstrable leadership skills gained
in an a bargaining and organising
environment
5. Resource
Management
5.1 Ability to work on and manage projects
including
 Planning and evaluation
 Time management
 Evidence of contributing towards
budget management including
monitoring progress and resource
control
 Setting clear objectives
A & Pl
6. Physical
Skills (with DDA
modification
where
necessary)
7. General
Knowledge
6.1 Keyboard skills
A
6.2 Driving
A
7.1 Understanding of and commitment to
UNISON’S aims and objectives
including the principles of equality and
democracy
A & Pl
7.2 A detailed knowledge of the key areas
of employment law including
developing case law
A & Pl
7.3 In depth understanding of the role of
trade unions and the national and local
social and political environment in
which the union operates
7.4 Knowledge of ICT packages including
Microsoft Office suite.
A & Pl
A & PI
Other Information
Please submit three copies of your completed application form.
Completed application forms must be received by Human Resources,
UNISON, 130 Euston Road, London NW1 2AY by no later than Wednesday
26 November 2014.
It is proposed to hold interviews on 18/19 December 2014.